Alberta Premier Danielle Smith feels a sense of relief this day.
Smith tells me there was a time she was nervous. After all, a lot is riding on this path to a pipeline.
The premier admits there were some stumbling blocks the last couple of weeks but they were ironed out with Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Now Alberta is expecting approval for construction of a pipeline to the west coast by September 1 of next year, a date revealed in your scribbler’s last column.
Of course, the naysayers are already coming out of the woodwork. They insist there will never be a pipeline. Some believe Smith somehow sold out Alberta to get an agreement.
The premier is not having any of that. She not only feels relieved, she is confident.
“The majority of people are being won over,” says Smith, with no hint of hesitation or doubt.
“The majority of Albertans want Canada and Alberta to come to an agreement. The majority of people feel optimistic about this deal.
“I think most Albertans are rooting for Alberta to do well and most Albertans are rooting for Alberta and Canada to find a way to do this together. We’re trying to win people over decision by decision.”
Smith points to those she sees as wanting this pipeline deal to collapse.
Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith sign an agreement on oil pipeline approvals and carbon pricing in Calgary on Friday, May 15, 2026.
She points to Alberta NDP leader Naheed Nenshi, as an example. The political wars do not stop.
“People like Naheed Nenshi have been calling this a pipe dream from the beginning and he has a vested interest in not seeing it be successful because his political fortunes are tied to failure,” says Smith, dismissing her rival.
As for those who don’t trust Carney, how does Smith get their support for this agreement?
“That’s why we have got dates written in ink and signed both by myself and the prime minister.”
Loyal readers know the dates. They are confirmed in Smith’s deal with Carney on Friday.
July 1, 2026. Alberta submits its pipeline plan to Carney and the federal government.
A potential route will be identified along with costs and out of what port the oil will be shipped. At this point there are no investors nailed down.
October 1, 2026. The pipeline would be declared to be in the national interest of Canada and fast-tracked for construction approval.
Psst … that’s right before the Alberta independence vote. Take that, separatists!
September 1, 2027. The pipeline would get construction approval, just like a development gets a building permit.
Psst … that’s right before the Alberta election. Take that, NDP!
Smith says getting those dates spelled out is critical.
“Those dates were very important to try to win confidence back,” says the premier.
After all, a deal with Carney was supposed to be inked April 1.
“I think the wait was worth it when you see we got that certainty written in the dates we are both working towards.”
Smith says it is also important this pipeline not be stalled, bogged down, delayed or made to wait and wait and wait.
Steel pipe to be used in the pipeline construction of the Trans Mountain expansion is seen at a stockpile site in Kamloops in 2021.
The premier says the Americans are moving quickly to green-light pipelines. On this side of the border big projects need to get up and running much faster.
“We’ve got to demonstrate we’re prepared to move at the speed of business,” says Smith, adding the world has to see Canada can do it.
Again, the doubtful remain wondering if this is the start of something new or just another kick in the butt waiting to be delivered.
“I get it. There is a group of people who have to see it to believe it,” replies the premier
“They have to see shovels digging the dirt in the ground to start the project and they have to see oil coming out the other end to believe it’s true.
“I hope we’ll win over the skeptics with our actions not just our words.”
Smith reminds Albertans if Pierre Poilievre and the Conservatives had won the last election, Alberta wouldn’t have to jump through these hoops to get that pipeline to the west coast.
But Poilievre isn’t the prime minister, Carney is the prime minister and Smith says there was no choice but to meet him in the middle.
She figures this deal did just that and it is a win for Alberta and a far cry from those days of “anger, frustration and despair” under Trudeau.
On Friday, after she and Carney sign the agreement to get a pipeline going, Smith tells me she might have a glass of wine with her husband over dinner.
Then it’s back to the grind. There’s tons of work to be done on the pipeline and then there are other issues like immigration and the federal gun grab.
“I don’t think the work ends. We’ve got a few more things to work out,” says Smith.
“We haven’t finished with grievances.”